Transgender student reports attack, sexual assault at Calif. high school

HERCULES, Calif. — A 15-year-old transgender student says he was attacked and sexually assaulted Monday at the same Hercules, Calif., school where another transgender student was involved in a fight four months ago.

The student said he was leaving the boys’ bathroom when he was confronted by three male juveniles, “forced into the handicap stall and physically and sexually assaulted,” according to Hercules police Detective Connie Van Putten.

A new California law allows students in public schools to use the bathrooms that match the gender with which they identify, and the teen had opted to use the boy’s bathroom.

Hercules police said no suspects have been identified, but Van Putten said the attackers reportedly made disparaging remarks to the student, allowing police to treat the incident as a hate crime.